The camera on the U740 is a standard 1.3MP CMOS sensor, which is used on most phones. So we were not surprised by the sub-par images that it takes in comparison to the 2MP enV and 3MP A990. Pictures that were taken outside lacked sharp edges and did not have good color representation. Indoor pictures were more faded and blotchy, depending on lighting conditions. There is a small LED flash that can provide light up to 4 feet. Once again we felt that the U740 was a “budget” phone because of the poor images that it took, reminiscence of the Chocolate and VX8600.

Camera samples

Taking a picture can be done with the phone flipped open either way, but there is an important difference. With the phone opened the normal way, pictures are taken in “Portrait” mode. While opening the phone in the clamshell fashion will take pictures in the more traditional “Landscape” mode. This is the only phone on the Verizon line-up that can take images either way. Despite the lack-luster images, the camera software is easy to use and has some of the same features from the more high end A990. There is only a 1.5 seconds delay from the time you press “Ok” to take the image until the image is actually taken. If choosing to save the image, it will show you the default file name it will be saved as. You can either click Ok and use that name, or erase it and enter in another file name. Saving the image takes another 3 seconds. An easier and faster way is to select Auto Save in the options menu. This will bypass the screen asking you to select the file name. With the Auto Save turned on, the total time to take a picture, save it, and then be ready to take another picture was a reasonable 5 seconds.

Pressing the camera button a second time will take you to the Camcorder mode. Video recording is limited to only 176x144 resolution, but can be recorded up to the available memory on the phone or MicroSD card. But if you are looking to send a video to another phone or E-Mail address, you can only record up to 15 seconds. Many of the same Menu Options are available in the Camcorder mode, including Color Effects, White Balance, Memory, Auto Save, Icon Display, Start Sound, End Sound, Recording Time, Flash, Self Timer, and Quality. Due to the low resolution of recording, it is best to view the videos on the phone. Viewing them on a PC will show that the images are fuzzy with poor color and soft edges. We would of liked to have seen the U740 be capable of recording videos in 320x240 resolution. This would have helped with the overall video image quality.

Camcorder interface

Music:

External Display

The U740 sports three Touch Sensitive music control buttons that have been showing up on phones since the LG Chocolate last year. They are located on the front of the phone, directly below the external display. You can press the Play button to bring up a list of all the MP3 files on your MicroSD card, or you can access them by going into the My Music menu located in Get it Now. This is the preferred method, since you can choose to play songs by certain Artists and Albums. Once the song is selected and begins playback, it will display the song information on the screen. You can either keep the phone opened or closed while the song is playing. When closed, you can press the three buttons on the front (which will light up red) and have it Rewind/Skip Back, Play/Pause, and Fast Forward/Skip Ahead. The quality of the music playback was someone better than the Chocolate, due to the stereo speakers, but still did not sound as good as the enV. Music had a “tin-can” sound to it and would become distorted if the volume was turned up to High. Also, if listening to music with the flip closed, it would muffle the sound. The U740 is an overall decent phone for MP3 playback, but the enV and A990 still hold our top marks in this category. Not to mention the fact that the U740 does not support Stereo Bluetooth A2DP, which means you can only listen to music from the phones speakers or with a 2.5mm wired headset.

Software:

Qualcomm’s BREW format is used for applications on the U740, but there are no preloaded software or games included. One free application that can be downloaded is Mobile Instant Messenger. It will allow you to sign into AIM, MSN, and Yahoo instant messaging services, just like if you were at a PC. You can view you buddy list and send/receive messages. Keep in mind that sending and receiving messages are counted as Text Messages in your calling plan. Another useful application is Verizon’s VZ Navigator GPS service. For $10 a month (after a 15 day free trial), you can have car-like GPS directional service on your phone. It allows you to enter in your destination (street address, cross street, or airport) and it will automatically find the most direct route from your current location. Not only will it show you a map on the screen, but a helpful voice will speak the directions to you. The U740 also comes with several useful tools, including a Calculator, Alarm Clock, World Clock, Stopwatch, and Notepad. The alarm clock allows three independent alarms to be set, while the world clock will list the current date and time for cities around the globe.

Display mode:

1.bubba (unregistered)

2.Vagabundus (unregistered)

Why the comparison to the more expensive EnV? Of course the EnV is better in most of these categories: That's why it is twice the size, heavier and more expensive.
How about comparisons with some other models--to give a better feel for where the phone "sits" in terms of all available phones.
I haven't used this phone, but the review feels like a hatchet job, similar to comparing the W385 to many other phones that clearly outclass it.
For example, would someone be better off with this phone than with the phones priced less? How does it stack up against phones its same size and weight?
Good points, but the frequent comparisons to the EnV seem a bit over the top, especially when taken with reviews of other phones where such a big deal is made over the size and weight of the phone.

3.Tara (unregistered)

4.Andy (unregistered)

I have the Alias and it's very good. I found the EnV too big to fit comfortably in my pocket. The keyboard is small, but you get used to using it very quickly. If you have big hands you probably will have more trouble with it. I wouldn't use it if you plan on texting 50 times a day, but I can check and respond to my emails easily.

5.Jazen (unregistered)

I bought a used U740 as my work phone (I own a Voyager but I do custodial) and I can honestly see where Samsung was going with it. It can be such a great phone! BUT there's so many bugs and UI issues that makes one wonder how Samsung (or Verizon) made such a mess.
I won't compare it to the enV or Voyager, since the features aren't up to the same bar. But I do feel the enV is a more stable phone

6.Comment (unregistered)

I purchased the U740 to take advantage of the Vcast pack for the Internet. Over all the phone is good. Yes the phone with the full keyboard is awsome. There are # of bad points I've noticed with it over the past month of using it. There is no camera button on the side, the view of the picture on the phone after it's saved sucks, and the battery drains fast when in low cover areas.
The good points of this phone. Speaker phone when the phone is closed works (unlike most of the LG phones), a 4 gig micro sd card is supported at this time (8 gig is the max with a future software upgrade), love the cam corder with audio, and Internet usage for mapquest is good.
Overall I would not get rid of this phone anytime soon.

7. (unregistered)

really? a 6.4 because it's not as good as the env? obviously they've never noticed what an ugly beast the env is because this phone is like half the size and infinitely better looking, I've had this phone for like a year and a half and it's really been great, the keys are a little small and I can see that being a problem for a lot of people but i think at least half the population (including me) has fingers small enough to use it completely comfortably, they're very well designed as well as small keys go and i almost never have problems where i hit the wrong key, the only problems i have are that it is pretty hard to dial numbers when it's opened like a normal phone and over time the keys leave little scratches on the screen from hitting it every time you close the phone, well my main problem is that the verizon UI sucks but that's the same on the env, so yeah if you have rather small fingers i would definitely say this is a good enV alternative phone and i really don't regret getting it, the enV 2s look a lot better than the originals though so those wouldn't be a bad choice either in my opinion

i have had the samsung u740 (alias) since December 2007. it has given me nothing but Trouble! i am not rough with my phones but i do expect them to work well and this one hasn't worked well at all.
the 1st one i had only connected to alltel towers... messed up right. so they gave me a new one.
2nd one would shut off on me constantly. i told them about it and they sent me a new one
3rd one did the same as the second.
4th one is turning off on me the hinge is so lose it feels as if it will fall off at any time and it will not send any pix or fix messages even with 2 to 3 bars of 1x and ev service.
this phone is junk! it has proven to be more of a hassle then what it is worth and it is very unreliable! i would advise anyone agaisnt buying this phone. not worth the hassle it put you through, and definitely not worth the money.

9.LoveTheAlias (unregistered)

I've had the Alias since May 2007 ... a year and a half ... and I LOVE IT!!!
Why in all of the pages of review is there no mention of the speech-to-text ability of this phone? Seems like this site did nothing but knock the phone, comparing it to the clunkly, heavy, and U-G-L-Y enV ... yet all my friends with the enV envy me!! Texting is great on it, I have NO trouble with the keyboard ... you'd have to have really thick fingers to have much trouble with the size of the keys. The mp3 player on it is great .. I don't have an ipod or any other mp3 player and this phone is the reason why!!
The double flip hinge is very very sturdy, even after a year and a half of my friends and I constantly playing with its double flip. The battery has held up well for me, and being away from family and friends, and using it as my mp3 player for work-outs, I use the battery A LOT. The reception is great, the sound quality is great.
Really the only complaint I had with the phone was having to go out and get earbuds with a special connector for the phone, but I got those on ebay for about $6 with shipping so no biggie. The only other thing I can possibly think of is that when someone borrows it for the first time to make a call, it is a little overwhelming to them trying to distinguish the number keys amongst all the other keys; but once you look at it for a second, it goes back to awing them in amazement and enV ;)
There may be the iphone and lg shine and blah blah blah out there, but I will be keeping this phone for a whole lot longer because I am nowhere close to being sick of it. BEST PHONE I'VE EVER OWNED AND I LOVE IT!!

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